I'm willing to go one step further than saying the food problem is a contributing factor to the poor health of the country. It is THE factor. You can't call anything "health care" reform unless the false diet of this country is changed. Otherwise, reform is a shell game.
I am very glad you write this article, Amy. I completely agree and think more people need to realize what you have written.
Amy P - I think the cooking issue is one that needs to be addressed with the rest as you suggested, with kids. However until those kids grow up and are cooking for themselves, this is something that doesn't have an easy answer. Not wanting to cook is one issue. Not knowing how is another, although more easily addressed.
Also the cost of becoming a healthy weight is large. I'm currently overweight and I am really trying to lose weight. I have problems with emotional eating and being lazy.
So, I go to WeightWatchers, which is about $40 a month. I could have chosen a nutritionist, different weight loss plans, or a book. Most of these would be much more expensive. I cannot do it alone, just like most Americans can't.
My husband and I have joined the gym. That's $90 a month. I grew up playing sports, so I know what I'm doing. Many people don't and would really need the help of a personal trainer or a good friend to get real results.
My insurance doesn't pay for these things. But they would pay for my diabetes medication if I became a diabetic, my stay in the hospital if I had a heart attack, or my stomach stapling. There should be money for healthy activities written into the health care bill for all Americans actively losing weight or maintaining a healthy weight.
Great discussion! Building on what Amy and other commenters have suggested,
They say an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. To have any chance of stemming the obesity epidemic and the impact on health care costs, changes need to be made to the front part of the equation.
In my mind, it starts with our kids, educating them about healthy food and getting them in the habit of eating (and enjoying!) fresh, unprocessed foods.
Broader picture, until we make it affordable for people to eat fresh, high quality unprocessed foods, improve access to healthy food options and in general make eating healthy cool, we may not be able to make much headway.
I'd like to see a government campaign making it sexy to eat whole foods!
Kris makes a good point. The wild card is that many people are often so exhausted from working that they don't want to take the time to cook, or they don't know how to cook. How to address this?
I'd like to recommend "Good Calories, Bad Calories" by Gary Taub. Taub's book was full of really good scientific backing every step of the way, and it supports Amy's perspective here that the food pyramid was too politically influenced and the conventional wisdom about low fat foods is incorrect. He's not explicitly proposing a specific diet, but rather researching the health impact of the foods we eat.
Wonderful article Amy, and raises a point that no one will during this national health debate. Our government's food policy needs to shift as much as we need to reform our health care system. Teaching and allow people to take care of themselves by eating healthy will only lead to decreased health care costs. Thanks for writing this.
There is a segment in the movie "Food, Inc." that illustrates your point perfectly. A family is deciding between an apple and a less healthy alternative. The less healthy choice would feed more of them and fill them up more. The apple would provide more nutrients and fewer unhealthy fats. It's not a hard leap when you have $1 to spend to buy the unhealthy food. Sending your children to bed hungry breaks a parent's heart, and saying "But the smaller portion of healthier food you ate is better for you!" does nothing to quell the hunger pangs or guilt.
The food industry, poorly written and executed governmental regulations, the school lunch dumping grounds (oops, I mean program) and advertising all share a piece of the blame pie.
Amy - an EXCELLENT commentary! Charging fat people more for health care is only putting a band-aid on a gaping wound. There is a lot of education needed on how to make healthier food choices on a limited budget.
Heck, it's only been in the last month or so I've come around to dried beans over canned (and I'd like to think I make good food choices in general). Cheaper by far and much better for you without all that added salt. Too many people don't know how to cook and rely on the crutch that is cheap, empty calorie, food-like products.
Hi Noodle, Thanks for the comment. I can't seem to find the business card or the container of pesto. Does anyone else have this informaiton? I'll keep digging. It's worth it.
I'm willing to go one step
I'm willing to go one step further than saying the food problem is a contributing factor to the poor health of the country. It is THE factor. You can't call anything "health care" reform unless the false diet of this country is changed. Otherwise, reform is a shell game.
I am very glad you write this article, Amy. I completely agree and think more people need to realize what you have written.
Amy P - I think the cooking
Amy P - I think the cooking issue is one that needs to be addressed with the rest as you suggested, with kids. However until those kids grow up and are cooking for themselves, this is something that doesn't have an easy answer. Not wanting to cook is one issue. Not knowing how is another, although more easily addressed.
Also the cost of becoming a
Also the cost of becoming a healthy weight is large. I'm currently overweight and I am really trying to lose weight. I have problems with emotional eating and being lazy.
So, I go to WeightWatchers, which is about $40 a month. I could have chosen a nutritionist, different weight loss plans, or a book. Most of these would be much more expensive. I cannot do it alone, just like most Americans can't.
My husband and I have joined the gym. That's $90 a month. I grew up playing sports, so I know what I'm doing. Many people don't and would really need the help of a personal trainer or a good friend to get real results.
My insurance doesn't pay for these things. But they would pay for my diabetes medication if I became a diabetic, my stay in the hospital if I had a heart attack, or my stomach stapling. There should be money for healthy activities written into the health care bill for all Americans actively losing weight or maintaining a healthy weight.
Great discussion! Building on
Great discussion! Building on what Amy and other commenters have suggested,
They say an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. To have any chance of stemming the obesity epidemic and the impact on health care costs, changes need to be made to the front part of the equation.
In my mind, it starts with our kids, educating them about healthy food and getting them in the habit of eating (and enjoying!) fresh, unprocessed foods.
Broader picture, until we make it affordable for people to eat fresh, high quality unprocessed foods, improve access to healthy food options and in general make eating healthy cool, we may not be able to make much headway.
I'd like to see a government campaign making it sexy to eat whole foods!
Kris makes a good point. The wild card is that many people are often so exhausted from working that they don't want to take the time to cook, or they don't know how to cook. How to address this?
I'd like to recommend "Good
I'd like to recommend "Good Calories, Bad Calories" by Gary Taub. Taub's book was full of really good scientific backing every step of the way, and it supports Amy's perspective here that the food pyramid was too politically influenced and the conventional wisdom about low fat foods is incorrect. He's not explicitly proposing a specific diet, but rather researching the health impact of the foods we eat.
Wonderful article Amy, and
Wonderful article Amy, and raises a point that no one will during this national health debate. Our government's food policy needs to shift as much as we need to reform our health care system. Teaching and allow people to take care of themselves by eating healthy will only lead to decreased health care costs. Thanks for writing this.
There is a segment in the
There is a segment in the movie "Food, Inc." that illustrates your point perfectly. A family is deciding between an apple and a less healthy alternative. The less healthy choice would feed more of them and fill them up more. The apple would provide more nutrients and fewer unhealthy fats. It's not a hard leap when you have $1 to spend to buy the unhealthy food. Sending your children to bed hungry breaks a parent's heart, and saying "But the smaller portion of healthier food you ate is better for you!" does nothing to quell the hunger pangs or guilt.
The food industry, poorly written and executed governmental regulations, the school lunch dumping grounds (oops, I mean program) and advertising all share a piece of the blame pie.
Amy - an EXCELLENT
Amy - an EXCELLENT commentary! Charging fat people more for health care is only putting a band-aid on a gaping wound. There is a lot of education needed on how to make healthier food choices on a limited budget.
Heck, it's only been in the last month or so I've come around to dried beans over canned (and I'd like to think I make good food choices in general). Cheaper by far and much better for you without all that added salt. Too many people don't know how to cook and rely on the crutch that is cheap, empty calorie, food-like products.
Amy Boland rocks.
Amy Boland rocks.
Hi Noodle, Thanks for the
Hi Noodle, Thanks for the comment. I can't seem to find the business card or the container of pesto. Does anyone else have this informaiton? I'll keep digging. It's worth it.
-Lee